St. Michaels is a picturesque harbor on Maryland's Eastern Shore and was named as one of the Top 10 Best Small Coastal Towns in America by USA Today. Its harbor and some homes date back to the mid-1600's, and is home to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum where you can immerse yourself in our maritime history.Come and experience the beauty of St. Michaels and all this charming town has to offer! www.stmichaelsmd.org

Sunday, November 27, 2016

The 36th annual Fireman’s Auction was held Sunday, Oct. 30th at Awful Arthur’s in St. Michael’s, MD. A record $73,125 was raised to benefit the St. Michael’s and Tilghman Island Fire Departments. Over a hundred local residents, small business owners and lucky weekend tourists enjoyed a tented event full of fun, laughter and the best of small-town life.

Arthur Webb, owner of Awful Arthur’s, remarked “I am so thankful and proud to have such a great committee who worked together for a significant cause, the local fire departments. We are grateful to so many people who opened up their hearts and wallets to come together for our community.”

The committee will remain together for next year.

For more information or to donate, call event chairman Donna Pierson at 410-822-5866.

Festivities for the Annual Tilghman Island Great Crab Pot Tree Lighting will begin at 5:30 at Character’s Bridge Restaurant. Walk across the street to witness the Crab Pot Christmas Tree Lighting at 6:30 pm on the Phillips Wharf Campus in Tilghman Island, MD. Santa will be available for photos and cocoa and cookies will be available on site. Following the tree lighting, there will be a boat parade featuring local sailboats, powerboats and fishing boats decorated by Tilghman Island residents. The events at Phillips Wharf are free to the public.

“This has become a highlight of the Christmas season for the island,” explains Kelley Cox, executive director of the Phillips Wharf Environmental Center, the organization spearheading the celebration. “While it’s a local tradition, we welcome everyone to come see us and enjoy the beauty of the season.”

Immediately following the boat parade the Best Decorated Boat Trophy presentation will be held at Harrison’s Chesapeake House. Food and drink will be available for purchase at the restaurant.

To donate a crab pot in honor or in memory of a loved one please email info@pwec.org or call 410-886-9200.

Phillips Wharf Environmental Center is a volunteer, non-profit organization that informs and inspires people to become good stewards of the Chesapeake Bay through hands-on education, our Fishmobile outreach program and our lecture series. For more information about our working waterfront and other educational programs see our events tab on our website: www.PhillipsWharf.org and on twitter, @phillipswharfEC #followthefishmobile!

Monday, November 21, 2016

Mark your
calendar for Saturday, December 3, 2016 for our 15th Annual MidnightMadness in St. Michaels, where you’ll take part in the annual holiday shopping tradition
while enjoying a festive atmosphere in one the nation’s top ten best small
coastal towns.

Each year, the Town of St Michaels is transformed into a
picture perfect holiday postcard, the shops, restaurants and B&B’s are
decorated with stunning greenery, lights and festive cheer. The holiday spirit
is felt throughout town, which makes coming to St Michaels during the holiday
season a special experience, year after year.

Great shops will be open until Midnight with refreshments
and snacks, and special holiday sales all day and evening. The Town of St.
Michaels will be festively decorated for the season, where you’ll hear carolers
singing holiday tunes and you may even catch glimpses of Santa.

Best of all, with every purchase you’ll receive raffle
tickets to WIN fabulous prizes! Last year lucky ticket holders won over $17,000
in gift baskets and special bonus prizes.
Drawings start at 11:30pm at the corner of Mill Street and Talbot Street, and
you must present to win.

Participating retailers are giving raffle tickets now, and sponsoring restaurants and accommodations will also be
giving out drawing tickets to patrons on December 2nd and 3rd, so make your
reservations today!

For
a complete listing of SMBA events or for information on participating
retailers, visit the SMBA website at www.stmichaelsmd.org.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

After three years in Cambridge, the St. Michaels Concours d’ Elegance is returning home, with its 10th anniversary celebration to be held on Sunday, September 25, along Fogg’s Landing at the waterfront Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

The St. Michaels Concours d’ Elegance was founded in 2007 and originally took place on the waterside lawn of the Inn at Perry Cabin. This year’s event will benefit the construction of the new Classic Motor Museum of St. Michaels.

“We are excited to bring the Concours home. The alliance with the new Classic Motor Museum is a natural fit,” said George M. Walish Jr., founding chairman. “It is our mutual objective to position St. Michaels as the classic car destination of the Mid-Atlantic region.”

The show field on September 25 will feature rare, pre-war (1900-1942) European and American coach-built automobiles, as well as significantly important post-war (1946-1966) sports cars. A special class of previous Best in Show winners has been created and will be joined by the Senior Award Winning Automobiles from Concours events throughout the country, including Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, and Radnor Hunt.In the tradition of the historic Concours events held in Paris, the exhibit of automobiles will be complemented by an elegant fashion show. An additional display of classic wooden speed boats, around CBMM’s 18 waterfront acres along the Miles River and St. Michaels harbor, will enhance the mood of stepping back in time.

"We are delighted to have the Concours return to St. Michaels and CBMM," said CBMM President Kristen Greenaway. "Hosting the event is all part of our commitment to the larger community and bringing our guests a delightful day of antique cars and beautiful waterfront."

Advanced tickets can be purchased online at $40 at www.smcde.org. General admission tickets are otherwise $50 at the door. Advanced VIP tickets are available online at $100, which include lunch and Entrants Lounge access. Details for a Saturday, September 24 fundraising dinner will be announced at a later date.

For more information, visit the Concours d’ Elegance website at www.smcde.org or call the Classic Motor Museum of St. Michaels at 410-745-8979.

For more information on the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, visit www.cbmm.org.

Below is a schedule of functions and activities planned for entrants.
These events are hosted by the sponsors listed.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is hosting its 19thannual Boating Party Fundraising Gala on Saturday, September 10, 2016, themed around the historic America's Cup race and featuring foods and libations representing the six competing nations in the 2017 race; America, New Zealand, Sweden, Japan, Britain and France. Proceeds from the event support the children and adults served by CBMM’s education, restoration, and exhibition programs.

The evening event begins at 5:00 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres served along Navy Point and the Miles River, followed by a gourmet dinner catered by PeachBlossoms Events of Easton, Md. and live music performed by DC Fusion.

Dance-band DC Fusion was named Northern Virginia Magazine’s 2015 Best Wedding Band, with band members having performed with artists such as Carlos Santana, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Angie Stone, Isaac Hayes and more. They regularly appear at regional venues including Wolf Trap, Blues Alley, the Kennedy Center, and Bethesda Blues and Jazz Club.

This year, CBMM’s Boating Party features a rare, and up close experience aboard the schooner America. The 139-foot yacht America is a replica of the vessel that started the America’s Cup tradition in 1851 by defeating the British to win the Royal Yacht Squadron’s “100 Pound Cup.”

During the event, Boating Party guests will have the opportunity for exclusive tours and photo opportunities with America’s captain and crew while enjoying cocktails. America will also be at CBMM on other select dates in September, with the general public offered dockside tours and pre-booked private and public cruises during regular museum hours, with dates and more information at www.cbmm.org.

Boating Party tickets are $250 per person with special sponsorship table reservations ranging from $2,500 to $7,500. Each table sponsorship offers special recognition in the Boating Party program, at the table, on name badges and event signage, along with a special gift. Early table sponsors include Wye Financial & Trust, a division of Shore United Bank, and the Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond. To request an invitation, or to reserve your table, call 410-745-4978 or email Liza Ledford at lledford@cbmm.org.

Established in 1965, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a world-class maritime museum dedicated to preserving and exploring the history, environment, and people of the entire Chesapeake Bay, with the values of relevancy, authenticity, and stewardship guiding its mission. Serving nearly 70,000 guests each year, CBMM’s campus includes a floating fleet of historic boats and 12 exhibition buildings, situated in a park-like setting along the Miles River and St. Michaels’ harbor. For more information, visit www.cbmm.org.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Shakespeare in the Park returns to St. Michaels thanks to the St. Michaels Art League and the Brown Box Theatre Project of Boston, who are partnering again this year to bring the the lighthearted Shakespeare comedy, Cymbeline, to Muskrat Park in St. Michaels on Friday, September 10th, starting at 7:30pm for a free performance. Brown Box Theatre Project is thrilled to produce Cymbeline as their sixth annual outdoor Shakespeare production this September. A theatrical feast, William Shakespeare’s Cymbeline delicately blends tragedy, comedy, and romance into an enchanting and unforgettable fairy tale. When Imogen’s father banishes her soul­mate, the princess must embark on a quest to prove her fidelity, escape her stepmother’s dastardly plot, and reclaim her love. Cymbeline is brimming with forbidden romance, mistaken identities, jealousy, vile trickery, poison, disguises, and epic swordfights. Director Kyler Taustin explains, Cymbeline, one of Shakespeare’s rarely produced works, is an alluring amalgamation of romance, ferocity, intrigue, and fancy, all encompassed in one ‘hidden gem’ of a play. Its focus on patriotism, loyalty, trust, and honor is incredibly timely in our current social and political climate, and I am eager to use this play to explore the ways in which pride and ego can blind even the most noble individuals and result in ruinous consequences within families, countries,and even oneself.”Brown Box Theatre Project was founded in 2009 by Kyler Taustin to fill a void in the fine arts landscape of his home region, the Eastern Shore of Maryland. While Ocean City and surrounding areas had no lack of tourist attractions, there were few sources for professional theatre anywhere on the Delmarva Peninsula. Taustin, a graduate of Emerson College's theatre directing program, decided to change that by producing high quality theatre in major cities and touring those productions to Ocean City and other communities lacking access to the performing arts.The Brown Box Theatre Project (brownboxtheatre.org) have performed free to the public as part of their ongoing initiative to create theatrical experiences that entertain and excite audiences in communities with limited access to live theater.

When Imogen's father banishes her soul-mate, the princess must embark on a quest to prove her fidelity, escape her stepmother's dastardly plot, and reclaim her love. Cymbeline, King of Britain is brimming with forbidden romance, mistaken identities, jealousy, vile trickery, poison, disguises, and epic sword fights. A theatrical feast that defies genre lines, Cymbeline delicately blends tragedy, comedy, and romance into an enchanting and unforgettable Shakespearean fairytale.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

The Talbot Watermen’s Association is bringing the 7th Annual Watermen’s Appreciation Day to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md. and the Miles River on Sunday, August 14, 2016. The event is a joint fundraiser for both organizations.

The “watermen’s rodeo” boat docking contest returns to Navy Point, near the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse. Bleacher seating will be provided for spectators to the contest.

Steamed crabs, beer, and other foods and beverages will be available for purchase. The event is hosted by TWA in cooperation with CBMM, with proceeds benefiting both organizations. The pricing for steamed crabs will be set by July 24, and will be announced at that time on CBMM’s website.

These unique craft were used to haul seafood and cargo along the Chesapeake Bay’s waterways before many of the peninsulas were connected by bridges. As the seafood harvest declined and highways became the mode of travel the large graceful buyboats faded from local waters. Today, no more than 30 of the oyster buyboats remain on the Bay. Buyboats at CBMM during Watermen’s Day include F.D Crockett, Nellie Crockett, Thomas J., Prop Wash, East Hampton, 55th Virginia, Iva W., Old Point, and Winnie Estelle.

Starting at noon, the classic rock, country, and blues sounds of Bird Dog and the Road Kings will have people tapping their toes and dancing along the museum’s waterfront as the region’s favorite band plays live from the historic Tolchester Beach Bandstand. Also beginning at noon, the day’s catch of steamed crabs—served by watermen—will be available for purchase, in addition to beer, water, soda, hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, and more.

Children and families can enjoy games and activities throughout the day, including competing in an anchor toss, line baiting, or a rowboat racing contest. Scenic river cruises aboard the museum’s 1920 buyboat, Winnie Estelle, will take festival-goers out on the Miles River throughout the day.

Bids can be placed on a number of silent auction items, including work by noted Chesapeake artist Marc Castelli. Silent auction bids can be made up until 4:30 p.m., with proceeds supporting the Talbot Watermen’s Association.

Throughout the day, festival-goers can get an up-close view of the museum’s floating fleet of historic Chesapeake vessels, along with a selection of working watermen’s boats. Festival admission also includes entrance to CBMM’s permanent and temporary exhibitions, including the temporary Waterfowling exhibition, Chesapeake Camo, Ammo, & Calls, and full access to the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse.

“Watermen’s Day is an annual favorite among locals and guests alike,” said CBMM President Kristen Greenaway. “You can meet many of the watermen who work to bring seafood to tables across the region, while having a great time celebrating the Chesapeake in such an incredibly authentic way.”

Admission to the 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. event will be collected at the gate the day of the event and includes the boat docking contest, celebrity appearances, and the Bird Dog and the Road Kings performance at $18 for adults, and $8 for children 6-17, with all children under six years of age admitted free. Museum members along with licensed watermen and their families get discounted admission at $10 per adult, and $6 per children ages 6-17. Boat rides, steamed crabs, beer, and additional food and beverages will be available for purchase.

All event parking will be available at St. Michaels High School, with free shuttle service to the museum running throughout the day.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to be kept home during CBMM festivals, including Watermen’s Appreciation Day. Leashed dogs are only permitted on the museum’s campus during regular operating hours.

Pricing includes the boat docking contest, guest appearances live music with Bird Dog & the Road Kings, children’s activities, and much more. Food and drink are extra cost. This event is a joint fundraiser for the Talbot Watermen’s Association and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

Tickets for the event and crabs will be available at the gate, the day of the event. CBMM Member and watermen discounted tickets can be purchased in advance at CBMM’s Welcome Center and Museum Store. Watermen and their immediate family members must show proper identification for discount.

STEAMED CRAB PRICING WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN EARLY AUGUST

*Absolutely NO CARRY-ON Alcohol is permitted for this event. All alcohol must be purchased on premise with a valid ID.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

On the evenings of July 11-13, the 22nd annual Chautauqua Summer Series brings three live performances to the waterfront campus of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. This year’s Maryland Humanities’ series features Pulitzer Prize winners Duke Ellington, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Ernest Hemingway, with all living history performances taking place from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. along the Miles River, and offered free and open to the public.

The 2016 Chautauqua Summer Series at CBMM is generously sponsored by Easton Eye Care and Karen and Langley Shook, and is funded in part by a grant from the Talbot County Arts Council, with revenues provided by the Maryland State Arts Council, Talbot County, and the Towns of Easton, Oxford and St Michaels.

“Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.” With these words, American publisher Joseph Pulitzer articulated a set of standards that inspire journalists, writers, artists, and musicians in their creative endeavors.

This year's Masters of their Craft theme commemorates the centennial of the Pulitzer Prizes by featuring three Pulitzer winners on the Chautauqua stage. On Monday, July 11, Baltimore vocalist, pianist, and actor Tevin Brown will portray Duke Ellington, the incomparable showman, and one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century with a career that spanned over fifty years. On Tuesday, July 12, educator and actress Dorothy Mains Prince will portray Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize capturing the black experience in America through her poetry. On Wednesday, July 13, the series wraps up in St. Michaels with Hemingway on Stage author and actor Brian Gordon Sinclair portraying Ernest Hemingway, one of the greatest American literary figures of the twentieth century whose work continues to influence modern literature with his trademark style of simple yet perceptive prose.

A Chautauqua performance is a historical dramatization featuring individuals who are part scholar and part actor. Each performance is broken into three acts, where the performer represents a historical figure in the first person, then invites audience questions; and in the final act, steps out of character to answer questions that the historical figure could not have been able to answer.

“Chautauqua” was the name for the Chautauqua Lake area in upstate New York, where the movement began in 1874 as a Methodist summer retreat. A wide range of religious lectures and educational programs attracted a huge following. As it evolved, the Chautauqua movement presented the latest in thinking in politics, economics, literature, science, and religion. Maryland Humanities launched the modern Chautauqua program in Maryland in 1995.

The Chautauqua Summer Series at CBMM is free and open to the public, with guests encouraged to bring chairs and blankets for seating. All performances are held on the lawn of Fogg’s Landing, near the museum’s Steamboat Building. In the event of rain, performances will be held in the Van Lennep Auditorium, with space limited. No registration is required.

Maryland Humanities’ 22ndannual Chautauqua Summer Series,Masters of their Craft, is coming to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md. on July 11, 12, & 13. This year's theme features living history performances of Pulitzer Prize winners Duke Ellington, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Ernest Hemingway, as illustrated by Tom Chalkley here. The CBMM performances are scheduled to take place from 7-9 p.m. along the Miles River on Fogg’s Landing. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets for seating. In the event of rain, the performances will be moved inside. No advanced registration is required. For information on specific performances, visitwww.cbmm.orgor call 410-745-2916.

The St. Michaels Art League’s Juried Exhibit at the A.M. Gravely Gallery in St. Michaels continues through the month of July. Over thirty artists submitted their work, which was judged for hanging in the show. The Art League thanks its Juror, Dr. Anke Van Wagenberg, Senior Curator at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, for her work in assembling an amazing show.

Dr. Van Wagenberg holds a Ph.D. in Art History for the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Prior to joining the Academy Art Museum staff, she has worked at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, taught art history for 12 years at Salisbury University, and has been a researcher at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Ms. Van Wagenberg is a recognized expert on baroque, renaissance and contemporary art. The Art League is most appreciative of her artistic assessment of the paintings which has resulted in a remarkable show.

St. Michaels Art League’s Juried Exhibit is at the A.M. Gravely Gallery, 408 South Talbot Street, St. Michaels through the end of July. Gallery hours are Friday through Sunday from 10am to 6pm and on Monday and Tuesday from 10am to 3pm. Visit www.smartleague.orgfor more information.

The St. Michaels Art League and Talbot County Arts Council are once again sponsoring the Art Hunt event during the entire month of July. Beautiful paintings by the League's talented local artists will be put in each of 15 St. Michaels participating stores for scavenger hunters to find for a free ice cream cone from Justine's. For more information on this fun event, visit www.smartleague.org

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

By Land and Sea, St
Michaels Brewfest 2016 offers a Delicious and Educational Event!

The 3rd annual St. Michaels Brewfest scheduled
for June 4, 2016 is not only a great place to taste an amazing variety of local
craft beers, but is a fun way to experience the heritage and tradition of St.
Michaels, MD and maybe even learn a thing or two!

Buying a ticket gets the purchaser into
several different venues that are on an easy walking trail designed to enable
visitors to enjoy the town during the day. Partnering this year are the
waterfront venues of Foxy’s Harbour Grille, Town Dock Restaurant, and the famous
St. Michaels Crab Claw in addition to the working Eastern Shore Brewery.

The
Crab Claw dates back over half a century and the Brewery is located in the
lovingly restored Mill property on Talbot Street. Along the walking path between each venue, visitors will be
treated to views of historic homes and gardens, museums, and fantastic water views
of the Miles River. The back streets of this town that dates to the late 1700’s
are a little-known gem to most visitors and walking throughout the day is a
great way to get a feel for this town that began hundreds of years ago as a
busy maritime seaport.

Adrian Moritz, owner of Eastern Shore Brewing Co. states, “If you’ve been to another beer
festival, you’ll figure out pretty quickly this is unlike any other.” Close to
one hundred beers have been carefully
selected and featured in the festival and many of the brewery owners and Brew
Masters will be on hand to discuss their craft in detail. Many participants
choose to spend the weekend and dig into the seafaring culture and fine cuisine
featuring locally processed crabs and oysters.

For even more delectable education, VIP ticket holders will
be treated to an hour long cruise on the Miles River aboard the Patriot Cruise
boat. The host on the Patriot will be Hugh Sisson, founder of Heavy Seas Beer
in Baltimore, along with Heavy Seas Brewmaster Christopher Leonard. They will
be available to answer questions about how the microbrew industry has evolved
over the years and will offer special samples of special small-batch brews not
available to the public.

On hand this year will also be a variety of Firkins, or cask,
beers, which are fresh, small batch brews that are completely unique and must
be consumed at time of “uncorking” - creating a lively atmosphere for the
guests. This traditional method of serving beer that has not been filtered,
pasteurized, or carbonated goes back centuries before our modern draught beer
was invented for shipping and preservation purposes.

RAR Brewing, Devil’s
Backbone, Eastern Shore and Evolution are among a sample of the breweries
offering firkins.

Each of the past two Brewfests have sold out. The Brew Fest
committee expects the same this year. They believe that the teamwork and
cooperation between the festival and the town has a lot to do with the
successful event. Community partners that are involved to make the event safe
as well as entertaining include the St. Michaels Rotary, which will man “Hydration
Stations” at each venue sponsored by Check Yourself Talbot and Comfort Keepers
of the Eastern Shore.

“We applaud the Brew Fest organizers for their commitment to
alcohol responsibility and are excited to again partner for the third year,”
said Beth Williams, Check Yourself Talbot chairwoman. “The inaugural Brew Fest
marked the first time our coalition participated in an event, and the response
proved overwhelmingly positive! We handed out hundreds of waters and snacks,
and had so many participants thank us for being there.

“This year, we’re bringing more than 2,000 waters to keep
everyone hydrated. We look forward to another great festival and greatly
appreciate the organizers for their continued effort toward hosting a safe –
and fun – event.”

Hosts St. Michaels
Brewfest, Teddy Bear Fresh, Kelley Distributors and Eastern Shore Tents and
Events remind you to please drink responsibly.
CheckYourself Talbot is a community-based coalition of people
who are committed tosupporting
positive and safer drinking choices among young adults.